Balloting system.



W.4 F. LBGG. BALLOTING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED PEB.`19, 1913.

1am; 1,3 14M Patented De@ 16, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

mi Ei E" 11mm I 16 1.5 19 j@ 9 E Q Z2 n QL i MILLE H d i KK u DEM E?? f f f p uml:l -7 fz//f/ f 52% we V EDCm: ,7, "l EIL-Cun INI/EN TOR W. P; LEG-n.

BALLOTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 19l3.

1,081,314, Patented Deia 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. E. E E E mfg/aufm@ Si;

A TTR//EY checked up WILLIAM FRANK LEGG, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

BALLOTING SYSTEM.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Application filed February 19, 1913. Serial No. $49,402.

To all 'wko/m. t may concern:

Be it known that l, VILLIAM FRANK Luce, residing at Portland,` in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Balloting System, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention comprehends an improved system et voting' by ballot, in which is embodied the assembling of a specially prepared ballot sheet containing a large number of individual ballots and in such manner that the ballots can be quickly and correctly tallied and counted, and a proof sheet taken from the entire block of ballots either by' photography or by any of the well known transfer processes.

My invention, among oth-er objects has for its purpose to provide a new system of voting` by ballot, by which the time required for countingthe ballot is reduced to the minimum, the gathering of the ballots in large numbers, assorted in such a manner, that they may be used as a blanket. ballo-t in connection .with a previously prepared tally card or base.

Again, my invention embodies a new` method of casting a vote by checking up on a continuous sheet containingr a large number of individual ballots and then. using the sheet containing the large number of ballots in connection with a previously prepared tally sheet, that has designating lines, s'paces, etc., and so arranged'that the series of individual ballots automatically,ias it were, tally with the said designating lines, spaces, etc., and thereby show the count so that there is no needof calling oli' figures or names when provision of a new' system of casting bal and rendered v tals ori'esnlts ot' the votes may be accu` has been made.

tallying the said ballots.

Another purpose of my inventionis the the act of vot-ing is simplified accurate and by which the tof?.

lots by which rately and quickly proved after .the count With other objectsin View that will herematter appear, my invention comprehends the novel form ot' ballot and the method of using` and tallying the same, all of which will be hereinafter fully explained, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

`Figure l is a perspective view that illustrates the manner in which my new form of ballot used and the manner by which the voter casts his vote. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-Q of the voting device shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figzd is a detail horizontal section on the line ll--l of Fig. Fig. 5 illustrates the method of rolling'and sealing a single ballot befforeV it is deposited in the ballot box. Fig. 6 is a face view or' one of my new forms vof ballot. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view oi a tally board or member with which my ballots are used and upon which the operation of tallying the count of the ballots is substantially automatically effected. Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the ballots are successively and in a predetermined manner are mounted and secured upon the tally card or board shown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view that shows another method of holding' the tallied ballots on the tally card or base. Fig. 10 is a perspective of a number of ballots pasted upon the tally board, the results having been summarized and a sheet of transparent material having been aliixed thereo-ver to' admit of inspection,but pre-r venting any tampering with the results of the count. Fig. ll is a detail view of a 'block of ballots and illustrates how a false vote, that 4is when two' dilferent candidates for the same oliice are balloted for by the same voter, is canceled. Fig. 1 2 is a detail View of a portion of a blank of'ballots hereinafter more specifically referred'to. Fig. 13 is a face view of a ballot showing how the voters choice of candidate may be indicated by a vpencil mark, shoulgl there be such pref-l erence. A I

In the practical application of' my improved ballot and the/system of voting and counting the same, theballot 1, is about four inches Wide and ofsufficient, lengths-@$11974 A.

'tain the names and description of all perlsons and measures to be Avoted for, and in my system the ballots are in the nature ofV a continuous sheet or roll containing al large number of ballots separated by suitable divisions la Within the bounds of which all candidates for any particular oiiice are grouped. L

In the showing or" my form ot ballot each name and ymeasure, in practice, takes up about three-eighths or' an inch in Width, the names-of the candidates occupy a space of i about two and one-hali` linches in length or base. ,30-

with the office. for which they arel running indicated at thev head. A line 2 is drawn between the namesfof the diderent candidates that extends to oneedge of the ballot sheet; the said lines 2 are to assist in lining up the .ballot when pasting and dividing- .in 4names and o ilices, as required, and` that portion of the ballot is joined With other parts of the ballot at the line of p erfora# tions 5, the latter being provided so the eX- tra ballot portion maybe separated from the regular ballot.

6 designates spaces, one for each Candi-- .date and measure 'space that 1s used tor footing up the total votes for each Candidate and measure. The ballots are checked or voted by cutting a notch in one edge v opposite'the selected candidate and since' in my system of voting it is necessary that the cutaway portion or notch be uniform on all ballots cast I have provided a voting device the construction of which is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 ,and 4. The voting device is a receptacle composed of a bottom S and side-s 9, the latter having opposite notches 10, one set at each end to receive the journal's l1 of a pair of rollers 12 uponwhich the opposite ends of the ballot sheet are Wound. The box or receptacle is approximately the Width of' the ballot so that the edges of the ballot travelclose up to the sides 9, as is best shown in Figs.- 3 and 4 by reference to which it Will-be noticed'at a `:suitable point, one of the sides 9 has 'a shal- Ibottom 8 and -at the upper end with a recessed socket 15 that holds a bracket that 'includes upper vand lower apertured extensions 16 for accommodating a punch' '17 having a head 1S and normally held up by the coiled springllQ arranged as clearly shown in Fig. l. The `iournal of one of the rollers 12 has a crank handle 2O for Wind-` ing out the ballot sheet which may be done 'eifrlier by the voter or by a clerk.

it being understood after voting, before a.

new ballot is recorded the last voted ballot is rolled upon the front roller, the subsequent voters going through t-he operations just described. After the ballot sheet on the i rollers, or so much of it as is necessary to meet the requirements of the voters is used up, it is rolled up on one of the rollers, then` slipped endwise otf such roller, and the roll sealed by pasting a strip or band 22 across the 'roll after it is deposited by the clerk into the ballot box as indicated by Fig. 5.

` After the polls close, the rolls of ballots are taken from the ballot box and then pasted on a previously prepared tally sheet or base Which sheet designated 23, corresponds vas to lines and names with the printed ballots and on its margin it has a space 27 for the entry of the total ballot cast tor each person or measure.

The tally sheet has a gummed surface 25,

to hold the ballots in position (Which may,

however, be pasted on) so that the right edge of the ballot Will be pasted to the edge in such a position that the left margin of the' ballot Will extend just over the black line to the left of the names and measures voted for.

It should 'be stated that as a matter of convenience not more than one hundred bal- .lots should be placed on each tally sheet and vWhen one hundred ballots have been so pasted on the tally sheet, the lines between each name will 'show clearly across the sheet, and Wherever a name ormeasure has been voted, a black line or mark will show .through the punch mark (see 26,- Fig. 8)

and the eye thereby easily catch and count the number of ballots cast for each person,

which total number is then entered on the margin (see27, on Fig. 10).

' By reason of the manner in Which-my ballot is arranged and thernanner or sys` tem under' which -theballots are counted when a count of a block of ballots has been made and checked by the clerk, the ballots thus prepared on the tally sheet, may be sealed by pasting over the top of the ballot a. sheet of transparent paper 25X, thus enabling any person interested to check any ballot or check any sheet and verify the correctness ot' the c'ountadvertentlyvotes for. two candidates when but one shouldbe voted-fonct' for more ballots .thanthe ballot .calls for, thus rendering t-he ballot void as to that particular oiiice, .by reason" ofthe manner in 'which the ballots are punched or indicated, the judge will readily discover the error 'Whose duty it will be to immediately mark in red the defective portion of the ballot (see 28 of Fig. 11) after the ballot has been pasted on the tally sheet. Y

By reason of the manner in which I arrange the ballotl and the system under which the ballots are counted, the ballot, as it is placed in the order -prescribed,tallies each candidate voted for automatically. y

The candidates named and the office for which he is running continually stand at the head of the list and in lineas the ballots are placed in position. A place is provided on the ballot for placing the sum total for each candidate, the name of each candidate occupies a place beneath the figures to prevent mistakes or misplacing of the figures. By this method there is no calling off figures or names or tallying them; the tally marks shown through the circular cut in the ballot voted arel counted. This method makes it easypto prove up the results of an election after the count h as been made.

My system of handling ballots is very s imple and accurate and since the ballots are 'rolled there are no creases inthe paper and the ballots are thereby secured from sight ot' the voters. thus makinga secret ballot; In Figj'1`3, I have shown an alternative method of marking a ballot, which consists simply of a cross mark 30, either in ink or pencil, thus -a votermay secretly mark his ballot with no danger of being observed by possible bystanders.

llVhen pasting the ballots, a table is provided the length of the vballot and thetally sheet which may be a piece of cardboard or canvas, is placed thereon, it being understood that the said sheethas been previously prepared so that it'needs but be dampened with a sponge as the tip edge-of the ballot only touches this dampened sheetand no bad results need be expected by buckling of the A paper. When, however, a large number `of ballots are pasted, a thumb tack or similar holder may be used for securing the bunch of ballots on the tally sheet.

Five persons vare usuallyA required to handle the ballot. Three of such persons stand on the face or pasting side, each having a sharp pointed tool that locates the .place for the `ballot .to rest. Two men stand on the opposite side of thetable. One man stands at the roll of ballots to the second man, who, as he unrolls itfliands it -to the third man -across the table-,"where it is brought to the tally and lined up andpiessed upon the prepared sheet; this operation requires vbut a few seconds of time for the ballot to be placed in its proper position. After the ballots have all been pasted the ballot is long enough for the clerks to proceed to count and tally the votes at the same time.

In my system the names of candidates are usually arranged in alphabetical order; the naines beginning with A, B, C, are placed at the head of the line; the names beginning with D, E, F come next and the names beginning with G, II, I, come next and so on. This is called rotating the naines'of candidates on the ballots by precincts That I claim is:

1. A ballot consisting` of' a sheet having a continuous line of ballot of like designations and divided by separatingspaces, the said ballot sheet including a designating line that extends its full length, and is located near one edge, the said edge having notches, one

bined with a tallying means consisting of a and measure spaces similar to the spaces of each individual ballot on the sheet, and means for holding a number of ballots on the tallying means with their notched edge set back relatively to each other whereby the notched edge of one ballot is positioned over the indicating line of a preceding ballot, and the tallying member.

2. In a balloting system, a set of ballots cach consisting of a sheet having candidates names arranged in column formation, said sheet having an indicating line extending along one edge of the sheet adjacent to the column of names to set off a column oi spaces corresponding in number to the numbei' of names` said sheetadapted to be notched in said spaces for the candidates voted, a tally having a duplicate ballot form said tally and overlap each other whereby the indicating line of one ballot will be exhibited only through the cut away portion or portions of the next ballot beneath and thereby form the vote counters.

sheet having an indicating line extending column of names to set 0H a column of spaces corresponding'in number to thek number of names, said sheet adapted to be notched in the ballot box and cuts the bands and hands for each candidate or measure space, com-l on its face, said ballots adapted to lie on Iii` a ballot-ing system, a set of ballots each consisting of a sheet having candidates. names arranged in column formation, said' along one edge of the sheet adjacent to the body spaced and divided so it has candidate said spaces for the'candidaea mta? ally hzwmg a duplicate ballot om on fac@ ythrough the cui; away portion Urfprtons saai, @m sawing if@ 1; imm-,iwi iivmw LEGS.

the next ballo@ beneath and thereby form the vote counters, and a transparent covemng 

